Simon james harry



(N0 Modem S. J. HARRY. RAILWAY SPIKE AND TIE.

No. 542,474 PatentedJuly 9,1895.

INVEN TO'H A fro/2115M,

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON JAMES HARRY, WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

RAILWAY SPlKE AND TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,474, dated July 9, 1 895.

Application filed April 9, 1895. Serial No. 545,116. (No model.) v

, To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, SIMON JAMES HARRY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Spikes and Ties, of which the following is a specification, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to railroad ties and spikes therefor for holding the rails of the track in position; and the object thereof is to provide an improvement in this class of devices which will prevent frequent accidents caused by the spreading of the rails, rotten ties, loose spikes, broken bolts, &c., and which shall be simple in construction and operation and comparatively inexpensive.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which Figure l is a plan of a section of arailway, showing the spikes which secure the rails in position arranged according to my invention; and Fig. 2, a section thereof on the line no 00.

In the practice of my invention I employ a tie 2, which is made of metal and may be hollow or solid, as desired, the ends thereof where the rails rest being solid.

At each end ofthe tie are formed in the manner shown in Fig.2 two holes 3 and 4 for the spikes, which cross each other, as also shown in said figures, near the middle of the tie in such manner that one of said holes or passages cuts the other transversely to the eX- tent of about one-third of its width, this feature being indicated by thedotted line in Fig. 1. These holes are preferably square in cross-section and are designed to receive the spikes 5 and 6, which are also square in section. In the inner spike 5 is formed a hollow bore or receptacle, which is preferably open on one side, (shown at the right-hand side of Fig. 2,) and in this receptacle is placed a sliding plug or chuck 7, carrying at its upper or inner end a rod or shank 8, on which is mounted a spiral spring, as clearly shown in said Fig. 2. The bore or receptacle in which thechuck is placed opens at the lower end of the spike, as is also shown, and the said spike is cut away transversely to about one-half of its are placed.

width at about the middle thereof, forming a a transverse recess, and in the normal position of the chuck 7 it extends partially across this cutaway portion, and it is provided with an arm 9, which extends forward at one side of the cutaway portion through the central bore of the spike almost to the end thereof, as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 2. The spike 6 is provided at one side thereof, adjacent to the spike 5, with a recess or notch 10,

forming an abrupt shoulder at the lowerend thereof, and the inner wall of said recess being upwardly inclined, as shown at the righti hand side of Fig. 2.

The heads of the spikes 5 and 6 are'so formed as to give ample opportunity to pullthem out when the locking device by which they are secured together is open, and the upper sides of the ties are corrugated, so as to firmly hold the rails when the spikes are in position, as" are also the under sides of the heads of the spikes. The spikes are placed in position in the following manner: The nails are laid across the track, as shown in Fig. 1, exactly between the holes 3 and 4, in which the spikes The spike 5 is then driven home through the hole-3, after which the spike 6 is driven through the other hole, the end thereof striking the beveled upper surface of the end of the chuck 7 and sliding it back in its housing until the abrupt shoulder at the lower end of the recess 10 passes the lower edge of said chuck, when the latter will be pressed forward by the spring 11 on the shank 8 and forced into said recess, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and in which position each of said spikes will be securely held, it being absolutely impossible to remove either one unless the chuck 7 is shoved back by inserting a rod or other tool into the lower end of the bore of the spike 5 and driving backward the chuck, when the spike 6 can be removed and afterward the spike 5. It is evident that this fastening for the rails may be applied to any tramway-track, including the cable tracks now in use, and that it will not permit the rails to become loose, and cannot be opened until the lock is released.

When the rails meet on a tie, the tie they meet on will be providedjwith two sets of spikes, as will be readily understood, at one end, as it is not intended that the arrangement should be such that the rails on opposite sides of the track should both meet on the same tie.

As is well understood, the greatest strain to the rails and their supports results from the outward pressure of the engine and cars, which has a tendency to tip the rail and also to separate the rails at each side, and for this reason I put the inside spike in the tie first and at a greater angle than the outside spike, as will be readily understood, the latter spike passing through the transverse recess at one side of the former, as herein described, drawing the former d'own tightly on the rail, making it impossible to remove the same until the outside spike is removed, and to remove the latter the lock must be first forced back, as hereinbefore described.

In my improvement there is practically no strain on the outside spike, because the elevated portion of the tie forming a shoulder 12 thereon, against which the rail abuts, receives all outward pressure on the rail. This makes it impossible for the rails to spread or even get loose. It will thus appear that I accomplish the object of my invention by means of a simple and effective construction, the operation of which is simple and positive, and which is perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended.

I do not limit myself to the exact form and construction of the parts shown and described, as it is evident that many changes therein and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the scope of my invention; but,

Having fully described said invention, its construction and operation,whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a railway tie having two holes therein for rail spikes, which cross each other, of two spikes, one of which is provided with a longitudinal recess or cavity therein carrying a spring operated chuck and also a transverse recess 01' cut-away portion, into which said longitudinal recess opens, and the other with a recess on its upper side, which said chuck is adapted to enter, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combinatiomwith arailway tie having upper extensions at each end against which the rails of the track are adapted to abut, and provided with holes for spikes formed in the tie which cross each other at an inclination near the middle thereof, of spikes adapted to be driven through said holes, one of which is provided with a longitudinal recess carrying a spring -operated chuck, and the other with a notch which said chuck is adapted to enter when the spikes are driven into the holes in the tie, and means for releasing the chuck to admit of withdrawing the spikes, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination with a railway tie havin g upper extensions at each end against which the rails of the track are adapted to abut, and provided with holes for spikes formed in the tie which cross each other at an inclination near the middle thereof, of spikes adapted to be driven through said holes, one of which is provided with a longitudinal recess carrying a spring-operated chuck, and the other with a notch which said chuck is adapted to enter when the spikes are driven into the holes in the tie, and the spike containing the chuck being also provided with a bore extending through-the lower end thereof adapted to receive an arm or extension of the chuck, whereby thechuck maybe forced backward and the spikes withdrawn,s.ubstantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with a railway tie having upward extensions at each end forming shoulders against which the rails are adapted to abut, and provided with diagonal holes for spikes at each side of the rail which cross each other near the middle of the tie, of spikes adapted to be driven into said holes and having heads to clamp the bottom flange of the rail, one of said spikes being provided with a longitudinal recess in which is placed aspringoperated chuck, and a continuation of said recess opening at the lower end of said spike and a transverse notch or recess about midway of one side thereof, and the other spike being provided about midway of its length, at one side, with arecess having an abrupt shoulder at the lower end thereof, which said chuck is adapted to enter, said chuck being also provided with an arm or projection which extends through the bore in the lower end of the spike in which it is located, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, with a railway tie, of means for holding the rails in position, consisting of transverse holes formed at each side of the rail which cross each other at an inclination about midway of the tie, and spikes adapted to be driven into said holes, one of which is provided with a longitudinal recess adapted to receive a spring-operated. chuck and a bore communicating with said recess and opening at the lower end of the spike, said spike being also provided with a transverse recess about midway of its length in one side thereof and the other spike being provided with a recess adjacent to the first, forming an abrupt shoulder therein, into which said chuck is adapted to enter, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I havesigned my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 4th day of April,

SIMON JAMES HARRY. Witnesses:

JAMES HENRY McCHEsNEY, JOHN HENRY BORGER.

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